Reading, PA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum barrier height
- 4 feet
- Maximum gap in fence
- 4 inches
- Gate requirement
- securely locked when unused
- Applies to
- all in-ground and above-ground pools
Summary
Every swimming pool in Reading needs a permanent barrier at least four feet tall with no opening wider than four inches, and any gate in that fence must be securely locked whenever the pool isn't in use.
All pools must be enclosed with a permanent barrier or fence not less than four feet in height, such fence having no opening with a dimension greater than four inches on a side (or in diameter in the case of round openings). Walls of buildings may serve as a part of the fence or barrier. Where such pools are of the type having aboveground construction, that portion of the pool wall extending above the ground may be included as part of the barrier or fence. Fences shall have a gate, which shall be securely locked when not in use. Aboveground pools shall have a ladder or stairway, which can be removed or rendered unusable, and the entrance to the pool shall be capable of being securely closed to a height of four feet. When draining or backwashing swimming pools, water shall not be drained onto other properties without the owner's consent. Hot tubs/spas and inflatable pools, in lieu of four-foot fence, must have covers that secure to prevent access when not in use. ***** Part 11 Additional Requirements For Specific Uses Or Zoning Districts *****
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-8: Current through August 10, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 600-1013.C sets one enclosure standard for every pool type in the city: a permanent barrier or fence at least four feet high, with no gap wider than four inches so a small child can't squeeze through, running the full perimeter. A building wall can substitute for part of the fence, and on above-ground pools the pool's own wall above grade counts too. Any gate in the barrier must be securely locked when not in use, and the Zoning Office reviews this fencing plan as part of the pool's Zoning Permit application under § 600-1013.A and § 212-147.
Violations & Fines
A pool built or left without the required four-foot locked barrier fails zoning inspection; the City's Zoning/Codes Enforcement Office can withhold permit approval or cite the property until the fence is installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall does a pool fence have to be in Reading, PA?
Can a house wall count as part of the pool barrier?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reading
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